Device for automatically adjusting the diaphragm openings of cameras



April 17, 1951 A. J. PARODY 2,549,230 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE DIAPHRAGM OPENINGS OF CAMERAS Filed Dec. 30, 1947 Patented Apr. 17, l951 UNITED sTATEs' PATENT OFFICE,

DEVICE Foa AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE DIAPHRAGM OPENINGS or CAMERAS Aubrey J. Parody, Astoria, N. Y.

Application'December' 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,470

1 Claim. (01. 95-64) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for automatically adjusting the diaphragm aperture of focusing cameras.

Heretofore when a press photographer or commercial photographer is assigned to take pictures of events and people and he has to act quickly to catch the pose or action, it is desirable that he be required to effect the fewest possible adjustments of the camera at that time. It is, therefore, the main object of this invention to reduce the number of required manipulations on the part of the operator during the taking of the pictures to a minimum.

Because cameras, especially those used by the above types of operators may be also used in many other circumstances, it is also desirable that the adjusting means employed under one set of conditions can be easily attached to the camera and removed therefrom when the camera is to be operated under other conditions. It is another object of the invention, therefore, to provide a simple combination of means which can be readily appliedto and removed from the camera. I 1

Because in use by press and commercial photographers cameras are under constant manipulation and do not necessarily always receive gentle handling, it is highly desirable that the improved adjusting elements be related to each other and to the camera. so as towithstand ruggedtreatment without impairing their function', and it is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide'a simple, efficient, strong, and durable combination of elements which will function accurately even under such treatment. Since the cameras under consideration may be used for a variety of purposes, it is desirable that any combination of elements associated therewith to achieve the novel results of the invention do not require any change whatever in the structure of the camera and it is, therefore, still another object of the invention to provide a novel combination'of elements which can be associated quickly and easily with a camera without in any way changing its eonstruction'fand operation.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from a consideration of the detailed specification hereinafter set forth, especially when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a present preferred form which the invention may assume and which form part of the specification. i 1

When a press or commercial photographer 2 goes out on an assignment, he generally knows the lumen of his fiashbulb, the speed of his film, and has already decided on the shutter speed to use. With these three elements determined in advance, tables provided by the various film and camera companies enable him to determine a factor number for these three elements. With this factor number in mind and in accordance with this invention, it is merely necessary for him to adjust a control member in a proper position longitudinally with respect to the lens axis in accordance with this factor number and then physically associate a rotatable element operated by said control element with the shutteroperating finger whereby the only action required of the operator after these adjustments are made is to focus his camera on the object to be photographed during which time the diaphragm aperture is automatically adjusted.

Generally speaking, the control member may comprise a sleeve having a curved slot therein, the curvature of which is vectorially calculated with relation to the values of the diaphragm openings and the object distance. This control member is positioned along the lens axis at a point determined by the value of the abovementioned factor.

Mounted on the lens ring or housing is a sleeve rotatable thereon and having a pin lying in said slot. This rotatable sleeve has a projection which engages the diaphragm-operating finger or element. As the lens head in the usual manner of focusing is advanced or retracted, the pinin the slot is moved up or down therein and in so doing turns the rotary collar whereby the diaphragmoperating element is turned automatically to set the diaphragm for the proper opening dependent upon the distance of the object. In other words, all the operator has to do after the novel adjusting elements are set in position on the camera is to focus on his object and take the picture.

. The present preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings of which Fig. l is a side elevation of a camera with the novel device attached thereto with certain parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the novel attachment showing the cooperating sleeves;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial cross section taken through the sleeves;

' Fig. 5 is a plan view of a scale plate attached to the base of the camerafor setting the attachment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lens;

Figs. 6, 7 and 3 taken together are perspective views of the cooperating sleeve elements shown in the other figures.

Referring now merely to the specific form of the invention shown on the drawings, it is seen that the camera has a body portion I0, an expansible bellowsll and the usual frame I2 at the front end of the bellows and containing a lens I3 and a diaphragm element, not shown, but which is adjustable by means of the movement ofa finger I4 around the periphery of the diaphragm casing 5. The lens is suitably supported as usual in its own housing I6 which extends forwardly from the diaphragm housing i 5.

The lens I3 and its associated parts are moved back and forth in the usual manner in order to properly focus the lens by any suitable means, not shown. The camera is provided with the usualhinged base plate i'I- along which the frame I2 is moved when the camera is opened. On the; upper face of this base plate I1 is fixed a scale plate I8 having graduations I9 thereon spaced from each other distances relatively the same as thewell-known focusinglines used to focus the, lens.' However, these lines I9 instead of being nominated in terms of the distance of an object away from the lens are graduated in terms of determined numbers or factors as previously explained. These factor numbers are calculated in terms of three values: first, the "lumen of the flashbulb; second, the speed of the film being used; and third, the shutterspeed to be employed.

A suitable pedestal or bracket member has a bottom plate 2! provided with a longitudinal slot 22 to permit the bracket to be adjusted axially of the lens I3 and with regard to the factor lines I9. In this case the forward edge of the base plate 2| is used as the determining edge for positioning of the brackets. A suitable pin 23 fastened to the base plate I? extends up through the slot 22 and has a nut 24 thereon to tighten the bracket in a set position.

Supported on top of the bracket, 2IIv is a control sleeve 25, the wall of which is provided with a slot 26 of predetermined curvature and opening into the rear wall of the sleeve. This curve, as mentioned. above, is calculated by plotting ordinates and abscissae in terms respectively of. diaphragm opening values and object distances. It is to be observed that this control sleeve and its calculated slot being mounted on bracket 20 are intended to be fixed in any adjusted position on the base plate 51. Cooperating with this control sleeve is a rotatable collar 21. This collar has a projecting pin 28 on its periphery near the forward edge thereof and this pin is adapted to liein the slot 26. This rotatable collar on its rear edge is provided with a laterally projecting finger 29 having a slot 3.: in its forward end'and a turned over'lip 3%. This finger is adaptedby means of the slot St to embrace the diaphragmoperating finger or element I4 previously mentioned so that as the collar 2i is rotated, the diaphragm-operating element I4 is moved and set in the desired position.

The collar 21 is mounted rotatably on a sleeve 32 which is tight fitted over the edge of the lens: casing I G. The forward end of the sleeve 32 is thickened as at 33 to provide a shoulder against which the forward edge of the collar 2'! lies. This construction will permit the collar 2'! to be advanced into the control sleeve 25 as shown in Fig. l, but. theshoulder, 33 willeffectthewith.

drawal of the collar from said control sleeve when the frame I2 is moved backward. It is to be noted that the outer diameters of the collar 21 in the thickened portion 33 0f the sleeve 32 are of such a value as to permit them to slide easily within the control sleeve 25.

In the operation of the device with a special reference to people who are going out to take commercial photographs or news photographs where the action is rapid and the adjustment of the camera in the taking of the picture must be effected in matter of a few seconds, it is obviously desirable to have; as many of the necessary factors concerned in theoperation, already adjusted in advance so that a minimum of adjustment is required of the operator as and when the picture istobe taken. Consequently, when the average news photographer leaves the office, he knows the speed of his film; he knows the lumen power of his fiashbulb; and he;.knows the shutter speed he; desires to use. These three values being known in advance enable him from well-known tables supplied by the film companies to determine; his so-called factor number. This number is found onliis scale plate I8 so that he opensv hiscamera beforev leaving the oifice to dispose the, base plate I] in horizontal position and then places his sleeve'32 withpthe collar 2! on the lens, casing I6 with the finger 2 9 engaging the diaphragm-operating element I4, and then adjustthe control sleeve 25 on the plate IT in a longitudinal position, determined by the factor number thus found. The parts; are, so related that when the element I4 is in wide open position such as F 4.5, pin 28 will lie in the upper partof the, slot as; shown in Fig. 3. His shutter speed adjusting element 34 is already set at the selected speedsposition.

Withthe parts thus adjusted, now all the operator has to do to take a picture is to move thev periphery of the diaphragm housin I5 andthe finger element I I, will insure their proper relation duringthis' rotary movement of the collar. It obvious, that it is only a matter of a few seconds to either assemble or disassemble these parts sothat when thercamera isto be used under conditions where this adjusting element, is not required,,it-can readily be taken off without any loss of time and without anygreat effort.

While thev inventionhas been describedin de tail andshown with respect to the accompanyingdrawing, it is not to be limited to such details, since; many changes, and modifications may be made, in the invention without departing from the spiritand, scope thereof. Hence, it is desired to cover any and all forms and modificationsof the invention which may come within the, languageandscope-of the appended claim.

An adjusting-device for cameras having: a lens. housing; abase plate and a diaphragm-operating element which. comprises a control sleevedisposed in axial alignment with the lens, acurvedslot on the periphery of said control sleeve, the CllIYfl! ture of which is determined in terms'of, the relate 76. tion between diaphragmlopenings and object .dis-

tances, a bracket supporting said control sleeve, means for adjusting said bracket on the base plate, a gage plate on the base plate in association with said bracket, said gage plate numerated in terms of factors, the values of which 5 lens and its movement along its axis causing the 15 pin to move in the slot and rotate the collar to automatically adjust the diaphragm-operating 6 element in a position related to the amount of movement of the lens.

AUBREY J. PARODY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 212,099 Knapp Feb. 11, 1879 1,262,347 Ide Apr. 9, 1918 1,546,060 Carmine July 14, 1925 1,720,224 Lessler et a1 July 9, 1929 2,334,075 Davenport Nov. 9, 1943 2,351,834 Phillips June 20, 1944 2,369,199 Aiken Feb. 13, 1945 

